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Reprinted from The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla, Washington
Diane Hofer was interviewed by Vicki Hillhouse of The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.
Two decades of collecting M&M memorabilia has filled a Touchet couple's home
Purists, like Diane Hofer, don't put much stock in the purple M&M. After more than six decades of traditional yellows, greens, and browns, they are not convinced their favorite hard-shelled candy needs a new look. Some of them flatly refused to vote in the recent color election. "I like the primary colors," said Hofer, a Touchet resident and collector of M&Ms memorabilia. Hofer and her husband began collecting abound 18 years ago. They started buying M&M dispensers as gifts for their nieces and nephews. "I saw that first yellow one," Hofer said. "They were so cute and bright and smiley." We bought a bunch for the nieces and nephews and thought, "Well, we've got to have one, too." It's for the kid in us." When they thought the kids were too old, they began collecting the memorabilia for themselves. This month, Diane and Gary Hofer will host an M&M collectors picnic in Pasco. A couple dozen collectors from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho are expected to attend. Naturally, food will be furnished, though many collectors tend to avoid the candy dish. "We have had our share of eating it," Hofer said. "But we don't really do it for the candy." Toys are the main attraction. Collectors can sell or swap pieces there. Hofer will be keeping an eye out for an old cookie jar she's seen in one of her many books on M&M collectibles. Inevitably, stories about favorite finds and excellent bargains will also be part of the discussion. Hofer will likely tell about the giant blue M&M candy display she bought from a local retailer. The M&M is about as tall as her shoulders. She expected to pay $500 for it. Instead, she bought it for $50. Collector picnics in the past have been held in Iowa, Ohio, and the Pocono's, but never in eastern Washington, Hofer said. "I just hope it's not too hot and melts all the chocolate," she said. The M&M Collectors Club is a nonprofit organization independent of M&M/Mars. It was created in 1998 by a group of collectors who wanted to make contact with other M&M collectors. members are listed in a directory, receive a bimonthly newsletter, and are invited to a national convention and regional get-togethers. "After a while it becomes more of a game," said Gary, a Bur-Bee co, employee. "It was more about who could find what first." Now the Hofers have enough keepsakes to decorate their kitchen, bedroom, and Christmas tree every year. On weekends, they shop at flea markets, department stores, yard sales - anywhere an M&M souvenir might be hiding. "It's the only collection that smiles back at you." M&M Collectors' Mantra "we walk into the store. He goes right and I go left. Then we meet back with whatever we've found," said Hofer, who works for Baker Boyer Bank. Her passion for the memorabilia is explained in an oft-heard mantra of many an M&M fan: "It's the only collection that smiles back at you." She has dozens of large M&M shaped candy dispensers. She has books with M&M characters and matching figurines, watches with M&M faces, lamps with M&Ms holding the bulbs, a small M&M radio, a string of M&M Christmas lights, an M&M telephone, and an M&M karaoke machine. She has mouse pads, vases, plush baskets, and tiny toppers to plastic candy tubes that are pose-able and musical. Her most expensive treasure is a $60 M&M limited edition toy truck. The Hofers have bought M&M souvenirs on their travels to major cities, at the M&Ms World store is Las Vegas and on numerous trips to the local Burger King, which featured miniature statues in its kids meals one season. Much of their collection is stored on an enormous tiered display in their bedroom. Nearly two decades worth of toys, dispensers, mementos and house wares fill their two-story house on Touchet Street. Hofer said she'll have to learn to be more discriminating in the items she buys. "Unfortunately, they take up a lot of room - more than coins, more than stamps."
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